12

Chapter twelve: trust me

Today was school and me and Evan hadn't spoken properly all weekend. That would be the longest we have gone without speaking and it was a new feeling I wasn't used to. It felt like my body was shutting down without him; that I couldn't properly function.

"So tell me, how was your weekend ?" Henry quizzed with a raise in his eyebrows. "Other than our amazing lunch date of course"

Chuckling I blushed lightly on my cheeks "yeah it was good, all of it. Other than the whole Evan and I situation" I admitted

Henry sighed "that boy is stubborn as fuck"

I nodded "you're not wrong, he would probably go eternity at this rate without muttering a nice word to me"

"It should be the other way round. You haven't done anything" Henry said with a groan. I ran a hand through my hair and lowered my gaze, least I had Henry to help soften the damage.

"Anyway, I'll see you after class" I said with a wave in which he reciprocated the same action and walked away.

Just as I was near the classroom I felt a strong impact into my torso that made me wince as my back now pressed into the locker. "Wondered when I would see you around"

Looking up sheepishly I saw Katie with a wide grin "I haven't had the opportunity in awhile. Evan has finally seen sense and left you alone, what a shame"

I furrowed my eyebrows "what do you mean? What the fuck have I done wrong"

Katie shrugged "just you breathing is what you have done wrong. You're such a freak and to think I felt sympathy for you before ?"

I scoffed "sorry my life is such a disturbance to you. Have you got nothing better to do?"

Katie looked to the side and then back at me with a sickening smirk "no actually I don't. But now that we are alone I am so excited"

Swallowing thickly I lowered my gaze as she gripped my wrist and lead me outside to my dismay.

"You're such a weirdo- I have no idea why you even put up with yourself. Look at you, you're a mess. Anorexic bitch" she screamed in my face as she slapped me across the cheek; leaving an instant imprint.

I went to launch at her but was stopped by a hand, that hand belonging to Beth who was a new transfer student but was up Katie's arse from the get go.

"I wouldn't do that" she taunted in my ear as she grabbed my hair and pulled me to the floor, the mud splattering up my legs.

"I haven't done anything wrong to either of you!" I cried which was instantly dismissed by a kick in my ribs sending me yelping downwards again.

"Shut up. Just shut the fuck up" Katie screamed in my face "you know exactly what you did"

Taken back I shook my head "n-no I really don't!"

Beth grabbed my hair again and whacked my face into the muddy grass which made pain coarse through my jaw.

"Do you remember your first year?" Katie said softly as she crouched in-front of me. "Do you remember Cole ?"

I blinked my eyes and shook my head "what about Cole ? He hated me just as much as you-

"I loved him! And you got him fucking expelled by ratting him out for..."

I squeezed my eyes and shook my head, now remembering the buried memory I had suppressed for so long.

"Yes Katie I got him expelled for raping me. What do you expect ?" I sobbed into my hands "he- he took my virginity and raped me. Why wouldn't I want him to be expelled-

Katie fuelled with anger as she punched me in the face making blood pour from my nose as a sickening crack was heard. "No more words from your dirty, lying mouth!"

Beth and Katie then proceeded to punch and kick me in all places imaginable as I laid their helplessly; silently praying that I could just disappear. I was hated by everyone.

"Hey! What the fuck are you doing!?" A voice screamed in my direction which sent Katie and Beth running off into the building.

Sobbing helplessly I decided to just lay there, not wanting to even try move or look up to see who came to help me.

"My goodness Maeve" a familiar voice sobbed as they caressed my cheek "what did they do to you..."

"I'm so fucking sorry" the boy whimpered which made my heart sink, it was Evan.

"E-Evan" I cried as I sheepishly looked upwards to see his face. His face was ridden with panic and guilt which I so desperately wanted to get rid of.

"Don't be sad" I mumbled "you don't need to be"

Evan shushed me by brushing my hair behind my ear "let's get you seen to"

With that he picked me up in his arms and carried me to his car, slowly putting me in as I was sure to have had some damage done to my body. Everything hurt.

**

My eyes fluttered open and I saw that I was in my bedroom, a hot water bottle was on my belly whilst a cup of water and painkillers were laid out on the side table.

"Nice to see you awake" Evan said coyly with a smile "you gave me a scare"

I fidgeted in the blankets "I-I'm sorry"

Evan chuckled briefly "you don't have to apologise. I had a doctor come to the house to check your injuries whilst you slept. You were out cold. He said you have no damage other than some bruising which may take awhile to heal"

I swallowed thickly and grabbed my glass of water which sent a wave of pain through me "fuck" I cried "it hurts"

Evan sullenly wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me up for support so I was now sat up. "I'll look after you, I promise"

I smiled warmly "thank you- thank you so much"

The cold beverage soothed my scratchy throat as I sipped it slowly. "You didn't have to do all of this you idiot"

Evan pouted "I'm not an idiot- and don't you be an idiot. What sort of person would I be if I didn't help you?"

I nodded glumly "I suppose you're right"

"Anyway we need to report Katie and Beth, they cannot get away with this" Evan stated sternly which made me shake my head immediately.

"No Evan! We can't. I can't report them- you don't realise what will happen"

Evan frowned "what do you mean? We have to. What if they do this again ?"

I sobbed silently into my palms "Katie's dad sends money to the school. Do you really think they would get rid of her? It will just mean more bullying for me.."

Evan rubbed circles on my back and held me close, his top now getting drenched from my tears. "We will do something, I promise we will"

Evan then planted a kiss on my head "trust me"